Armored Core: Last Raven
A mech combat game concluding the Armored Core 3 storyline.
Armored Core: Last Raven is a 2005 mecha-based vehicular combat game developed by FromSoftware for the PlayStation 2, later ported to the PlayStation Portable in 2010. It is a direct sequel to Armored Core: Nexus and concludes the storyline that began with Armored Core 3. The game is notable as the debut project of future FromSoftware president Hidetaka Miyazaki.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- FromSoftware
- Publisher
- FromSoftware (JP)
- Agetec (NA)
- 505 Games (EU)
- Director
- Dai Takemura
- Producer
- Toshifumi Nabeshima
- Composer
- Yuki Ichiki, Ayako Minami
- Artist
- Makoto Satoh, Yuzo Kojima
- Programmer
- Ryoutarou Kishi
- Designer
- Tatsuya Kawate
- Yasutaka Kimura
- Hidetaka Miyazaki
- Wataru Murakami
- Tsuyoshi Satoh
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
Players pilot mechs called Armored Cores through over 70 missions that occur over a 24-hour period. Completing missions earns credits for parts and weapons and affects mission availability. Customization offers hundreds of parts and weapons, each altering gameplay. A component damage system allows individual parts to break during a mission, affecting performance: damaged legs cripple movement, damaged arms prevent use of hand-held weapons.
Plot
After the events of Armored Core: Nexus, the remaining corporations merged into The Alliance. A Raven named Jack-O formed Vertex from the ashes of Raven's Ark to oppose The Alliance, declaring war in 24 hours. Evangel leads Ravens loyal to The Alliance. The player, a surviving Raven, chooses a side. The story reveals the existence of Dominant, a gifted pilot. Evangel betrays The Alliance to infiltrate Vertex. Jack-O seeks the Dominant, even betraying Vertex members. The climax occurs at an energy plant, where the Raven learns of Pulverizers controlled by an AI called Internecine, which caused the weapons attack at the end of Nexus. Jack-O reveals the war's true purpose is to find a Dominant strong enough to stop Internecine.
Release
Armored Core: Last Raven was released in Japan for PlayStation 2 on August 4, 2005. Agetec partnered for a North American release on June 13, 2006, and 505 Games for a European release on October 6, 2006. The PlayStation Portable version, Armored Core: Last Raven Portable, launched in Japan on March 4, 2010, with North American and European releases on May 4 and July 14, respectively. It adds widescreen support, ad hoc multiplayer, and save data import from Armored Core 3: Portable.
Reception
Last Raven received mixed or average reviews on both platforms according to GameRankings and Metacritic. Critics praised the customization but noted a daunting barrier for new players. GameSpot found the difficulty too steep and reliant on trial and error. IGN was slightly more favorable but criticized the learning curve, lack of new graphics, and lack of significant innovations. Famitsu scored the PS2 version 29 out of 40 and the PSP version 26 out of 40.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who directed Armored Core: Last Raven?
Armored Core: Last Raven was directed by Dai Takemura.
Who designed Armored Core: Last Raven?
Armored Core: Last Raven was designed by Tatsuya Kawate, Yasutaka Kimura, Hidetaka Miyazaki, Wataru Murakami and Tsuyoshi Satoh.
Who composed the music for Armored Core: Last Raven?
The music for Armored Core: Last Raven was composed by Yuki Ichiki and Ayako Minami.
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